Fibreboard Corporation v. Reuben S. Pool and Lee Pool

This is an appeal from a judgment entered against six defendants in a products liability case in which five plaintiffs suffered asbestos-related injuries resulting from their exposure to various products manufactured by the defendants. The basis of the lawsuit was strict liability for failure to warn of the risks of exposure to asbestos. Of the five personal injury claims, two were lung cancer death claims (George Williams and Donald Freeman). The other three claims included a confirmed asbestosis case (Charles Strong), a disputed asbestosis case (Thomas Sledge), and a case in which the plaintiff had asbestos-related pleural disease (Reuben Pool). The jury awarded compensatory damages of $5,087,000, and punitive damages totaling $5,000,000.